(1) Save as otherwise provided in these rules, no Government servant shall accept, or permit any member of his family, or any other person acting on his behalf to accept any gift.
Explanation.- The expression gift shall include free transport, boarding, lodging or other service or any other pecuniary advantage when provided by any person other than a near relative or personal friend having no official dealing with the Government Servant.
Note I: A casual meal, lift or other local hospitality shall not be deemed to be gift.
12 Note II: A Government servant shall avoid accepting lavish hospitality or frequent hospitality from any individual having official dealings with him or from industrial or commercial firms or organizations.
(2) On the occasions, such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals or religious functions, when the making of a gift is in conformity with the prevailing religious or social practice, a Government servant may accept a gift from any of his near relatives but he shall make a report to the prescribedauthority if the value of such a gift exceeds the monthly basic salary of the Government servant.
(3) On such occasions as are specified in sub-rule (2), a Government servant may accept gifts from his personal friends having no official dealings with him but he shall make a report to theprescribed authorityif the value of any such gift exceeds one half of the monthly basic salary of the Government servant.
(4) In any other case, a Government servant shall not accept or permit any member of his family or any other person acting on his behalf to accept any gift without the sanction of the Prescribed Authority if the value thereof exceeds onefourth of the monthly basic salary of the Government servant.
(5) If any question arises as to whether any gift is one which can be accepted without the permission of Prescribed Authority or if a Government servant is in any doubt as to whether a gift offered to him is one which can be accepted without the permission of the Prescribed Authority, a reference shall be made to Government and the decision of Government thereon shall be final.